Material adapted for abrasive effect in use and scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like produced therefrom



1963 A. M. GOODLOE MATERIAL ADAPTED FOR ABRASIVE EFFECT IN USE AND SCOURING DEVICES, POT CLEANERS AND THE LIKE PRODUCED THEREFROM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1962 INVENTOR. .flgfredlfl Qua Zoe Aug. 6, 1963 A. M. GOODLOE MATERIAL ADAPTED FOR ABRASIVE EFFECT IN USE AND SCOURING DEVICES. POT CLEANERS AND THE LIKE PRODUCED THEREFROM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1962 ZZZ" INVENTOR. eel/T. 70002 Z 0e United States Patent C) BZATERIAL ADAPTED FG R ABRASEW'E EFFECT KN USE AND SfiflURING DEVICEEi, PGT CLEANERS AND THE LIKE PRUDUQIED THEREFRQRE Alfred M. Goodies, ltlSA. Duncan Hiil Apts,

Westfield, NJ. Filed July 25, 1962, Ser. No. 212,225 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-299) This invention relates to a novel base material adapted for abrasive eifect in use, and further adapted to be manipulated to produce abrasive scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like; and this invention also relates to various forms of scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like produced from said base material.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel base material from which to produce scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like, said material comprising slitted sheet material, the slits of which divide the sheet into a multiplicity of parallel ribbon-like strips having sharp side edges for maximum scraping effect, alternate rows of these ribbon-like strips being expanded or bowed respectively upward and downward perpendicularly to the face planes of the sheet, thus exposing the sharp edges of the strips for scraping efiect.

It is another object of this invention to provide a base material for the stated purpose comprising the aforesaid slitted and expanded sheet wherein the ribbon-like strips thereof are each provided wtih a plurality of transverse crimps, whereby to form a multiplicity of chisel-like projections along the sharp edges of the bowed strips which enhance the abrasive or scraping effect of the material in use.

More specifically it is a further object of this invention to provide various forms of scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like produced from the aforesaid base material.

The above and other objects will be understood from the following description of this invention when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of slitted sheet material ready for expansion, or both crimping and expansion, to form the base abrasive material according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the slitted sheet material as cross-crimped prior to expansion; and FIG. 3 is an edge elevational view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the crimped and expanded slitted sheet material; and FIG. 5 is an edge elevational thereof.

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the crimped and expanded slitted sheet the material, taken on line 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the crimped and expanded sheet material, similar to that of FIG. 4, but somewhat laterally stretched or expanded to provide a more open structure.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of an illustra- :tive flat form of scouring device or pot cleaner produced from the base material according to this invention; and FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively edge elevational views of other similar but modified forms of flat scouring devices or pot cleaners produced from said base material.

FIG. 11 is an elevational of a ball-like pot cleaner body or pad produced from said base material; and FIG. 12 is a similar view showing such body or pad mounted on a handle knob.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view, in part section, of a brush-like form of pot cleaner; and FIG. 14 is an elevational view of another form of brush-like pot cleaner, both produced from the base material according to this invention.

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Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 7 inclusive, the reference character 15 indicates a body of sheet material of selected width and indeterminate length, from which may be severed suitable sections from which scouring dev ices, pot cleaners and the like can be fabricated. Said body of sheet material comprises metallic foil (such e.g. as copper foil) or other suitable sheet material of selected thickness, egg. from .001 to .007 inch thick. This body of sheet material is first provided with rows of slits 16, said slits being of selected length, and being so relatively disposed that the slits of alternate rows thereof are preferably disposed in uniformly staggered relation. The rows of slits are spaced laterally apart so as to form intervening ribhon-lire strips 17. As shown in FIG. 1, the rows of slits 16 preferably extend longitudinally or parallel to the length of the sheet material body, but, if desired, said rows of slits may extend cross-wise of the sheet material body.

The slitted body of sheet material thus provided is, preferably, first suitably transversely corrugated or crimped (see FIGS. 2 and 3), whereby to provide a plur-ality of small crimps 18 disposed to extend transversely across the ribbon-like strips 17. These crimps can be /h-i" to /s" deep, and can be spaced apart A to on centers.

The slitted and crimped body of sheet material 15 is now ready to be expanded to complete its formation into an abrasive base material from which desired forms of scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like can be produced. By such expansion, the ribbon-like strips 17 of alternate rows thereof are respectively bent or bowed in opposite directions, perpendicularly to the face planes of the sheet material body, thus outwardly oifsetting portions of said ribbon-like strips from opposite faces of the sheet material body, whereby to expose side edges of said strips for abrasive contact with surfaces over which the material may be rubbed in use, to efiect desired scouring and cleaning of such surfaces (see FIGS. 4 and 5 It will be noted that the cuts forming the slits 16, being perpendicular to the plane of the sheet material, provide sharp cutting edges 19 (see FIG. 6), and consequently assure maximum scraping eifect, much superior to that obtained by material comprising flattened wire, the edges of which are rounded and therefore of very much reduced and limited scraping effect.

It will also be observed that when the ribbon-like strips 17 are provided with the transverse crimps 18, said crimps form a multiplicity of sharp chisel-like projections along the side edges of the bowed strips 17, which projections substantially enhance the abrasive and scraping effect of the material in use. In this connection it may be noted that if milder abrasive or scraping effect is adequate for any given use of the material, the crimps 18 may be omitted, although for maximum eifectiveness in use of the material for pot cleaner service, the crimped ribbon-like strips will obviously be preferred.

In most cases, when the described base material is utilized in production of pot cleaners, the crimped and expanded form thereof shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the alternate rows of expanded ribbon-like strips 17 are substantially contiguous or closely adjacent, is quite satisfactory. However, if a more open structure of said base material is desired, the expanded material can be laterally stretched or expanded as shown in FIG. 7. In some cases this may be desirable since such more open material can be more readily and thoroughly cleaned after use.

In either case, cleansing of the material, after scraping or scouring use, can be efiic iently accomplished, since there are few places or points where the expanded ribbon-like strips 17 engage face to face, even when layers of the material are superposed and open interstices are of such form that entrapment of loosened dirt and soil is reduced to a minimum.

Sections of the above described base material, cut to selected dimensions, may per se be used in single ply or multi-ply form ason abrasive instrumentality.

The above described base material is designed to be used in the formation of scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like and to produce various novel forms or types thereof, illustrative examples of which are shownin FIGS. 8 to 14 inclusive.

In FIG. 8 is shown a pot cleaner of the flat type, wherein a section of base material A, of suitable dimensions, is folded upon itself to provide a two ply body comprising superposed plies a and b, the meeting cut marginal portions of which are secured together by any suitable form of fastening means such e.g. as staples d; or said cut marginal edge portions c may be enclosed in a binding 2 of textile or other suitable material, which is adhesively secured thereto or by staples d or other suitable fastenmg means.

be folded upon itself to form a three or more ply body of the flat type, if desired.

In FIG. 10 is shown another flat type pot cleaner comprising a section of the base material A which is folded upon itself into a two-ply body comprising superposed plies a and b. The meeting cut marginal portions 0 of the plies a and b are suitably secured together, as e.g. by staples a. This form of structure includes, as an insertion between the superposed plies a and b, a spacer member 1 of any suitable material, and which is coextensive with said plies. This spacer 1, which is engaged by the contacting plies, serves to prevent undue sidewise or lateral stretch or deformation of the material of said plies. Here again, this structure may comprise two or more plies including intermediate spacers f.

In FIG. 9 is shown another form of flat type pot cleaner, wherein a layer of the base material A is mounted upon a pliable backing member 3- coextensive therewith, and secured thereto by an adhesive (not shown) or by any other suitable attaching means. The backing member B may comprise a sheet of textile or other woven material, and serves, in use of the pot cleaner, to protect the fingers of the user from direct contact with the abrasive material A, as well as to support and hold said material A against undue lateral stretch or deformation. In this type of fiat pot cleaner, the backing member B may be provided in the form of a plastic material, e.g. soft rubber, wherein is imbedded the underside or face of the material A, so that said material becomes securely anchored thereto, when the plastic material of the backing member is cured or hardened.

In HG. 11 is shown a pot cleaner of ball-like or pad form, which is produced from the base material A, by 00-1- lapsing upon itself and crushing together a suitably sized sheet of said material into a more or less compact interstitial mass C. As shown in FlG. 12, the resultant pot cleaner C can be affixed to a knob or other form of handle D, whereby the same may be handled in use, without necessity for the users fingers making direct contact with the abrasive material A. V

' In FIG. 13 is shown an illustrative form of brush type pot cleaner produced from the abrasive material according to this invention. This form of pot cleaner is produced by superimposing a plurality of sections of the abrasive material A of suitable length and width, e.g. sections of about 4" long and 2" wide. These superposed sections are folded together lengthwise of the assembly thereof, and the mid-portion of this folded assembly is then twisted upon itself into a condensed and consolidated stem member E, from which out-flaring free end portions F extend to form a brush-like body. A tubular handle member G is provided, into an open end of which is inserted and secured said stem member E, so that the brush-like body projects therefrom.

Although a two-ply structure is shown in- FIG. 8, it will be understood that the base material A may In FIG. 14 is shown another illustrative form of brush type pot cleaner produced from the abrasive material of this invention. This form of pot cleaner is also produced by superimposing a plurality of sections of the abrasive material A of suitable length and width, and then laying the assembly thereof lengthwise between two parallel wires w, thereupon twisting the wires together to lock the material thereto. The twisted wires w with the supported material is bent into a loop formation from which the resultant assembly of the abrasive material A radiates, thus forming an abrasive body H, from which free end portions W of the wires extend. These free end portions W of the wires may be inserted into a handle member G, thereby completing this form of pot cleaner.

It will be obvious that various specific forms of scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like, other than those above described, can also be produced from the novel abrasive material of this invention as defined by the following claims.

. Having now described my invention, I claim:

' 1. Abrasive material from which scouring devices, pot cleaners and the like can be produced, said material comprising thin sheet material composed of a hard relatively rigid substance having rows of separated slits out therethrough to divide the sheet into a multiplicity of parallel ribbon-like strips having sharp side edges, said strips of alternate rows thereof being bowed respectively upward and downward perpendicularly to the face planes of the sheet to form projecting portions whereby to expose the sharp edges of the strips forcutting and abrasive action in use, and said ribbon-like strips being each provided with a plurality of transversely extending crimps disposed along the lengths thereof, whereby toprovide a multiplicity of chisel-like cutting projections along the side edges of said strips.

2. A scouring device, pot cleaner or the like comprising a sheet of abrasive material as defined in claim 1, the sheet material being of selected length and width and folded upon itself to provide a plural ply body of the fiat type and meeting marginal edge portions of the plies of said body being secured together by fastening means.

3. A scouring device, pot cleaner or the like according to claim 2, including spacer means inserted between the body plies, said spacer means being coextensive with said plies.

4. A scouring device, pot cleaner or the like comprising abrasive sheet material as defined in claim 1, the sheet being of selected length and width to provide a body of the flat type, said sheet material being mounted upon and secured to a backing member coextensive therewith.

I 5. A potcleaner or the like comprising abrasive sheet material as defined in claim 1, said sheet material being crumpled and collapsed upon itself into a compact balllike body mass.

6. A pot cleaner or the like comprising abrasive sheet material as defined in claim 1, a plurality of strips of said sheet material, of selected length and substantial width being superposed and folded upon itself into a brushlike body mass, and a handle means to which said body mass is affixed.

References (Iitetl in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 242,009 MacLellan et al. May 24, 1881 1,212,032 Elmore Ian. 9, 1917 1,384,515 Conradson et al. July 12, 1921 1,642,857 Holtschneider Sept. 20, 1927 1,993,215 Hoyt et al Mar. 5, 1935 2,958,885 Donney Nov. 8, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,224 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1899 295,349 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1954 

1. ABRASIVE MATERIAL FROM WHICH SCOURING DEVICES, POT CLEANERS AND THE LIKE CAN BE PRODUCED, SAID MATERIAL COMPRISING THIN SHEET MATERIAL COMPOSED OF A HARD RELATIVELY RIGID SUBSTANCE HAVING ROWS OF SEPARATED SLITS CUT THERETHROUGH TO DIVIDE THE SHEET INTO A MULTIPLICITY OF PARALLEL RIBBON-LIKE STRIPS HAVING SHARP SIDE EDGES, SAID STRIPS OF ALTERNATE ROWS THEREOF BEING BOWED RESPECTIVELY UPWARD AND DOWNWARD PERPENDICULARLY TO THE FACE PLANES OF THE SHEET TO FORM PROJECTING PORTIONS WHEREBY TO EXPOSE THE SHARP EDGES OF THE STRIPS FOR CUTTING AND ABRASIVE ACTION IN USE, AND SAID RIBBON-LIKE STRIPS BEING EACH PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING CRIMPS DISPOSED ALONG THE LENGTHS THEREOF, WHEREBY TO PROVIDE A MULTIPLICITY OF CHISEL-LIKE CUTTING PROJECTIONS ALONG THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID STRIPS. 